A Deep Understanding of Structural and Functional Behavior of Tabular and Graphical Modules in Technical Documents

The rapid increase of published research papers in recent years has escalated the need for automated ways to process and understand them. The successful recognition of the information that is contained in technical documents, depends on the understanding of the document’s individual modalities. These modalities include tables, graphics, diagrams and etc. as defined in Bourbakis’ pioneering work. However, the depth of understanding is correlated to the efficiency of detection and recognition. In this work, a novel methodology is proposed for automatic processing of and understanding of tables and graphics images in technical document. Previous attempts on tables and graphics understanding retrieve only superficial knowledge such as table contents and axis values. However, the focus on capturing the internal associations and relations between the extracted data from each figure is studied here. The proposed methodology is divided into the following steps: 1) figure detection, 2) figure recognition, 3) figure understanding, by figures we mean tables, graphics and diagrams. More specifically, we evaluate different heuristic and learning methods for classifying table and graphics images as part of the detection module. Table recognition and deep understanding includes the extraction of the knowledge that is illustrated in a table image along with the deeper associations between the table variables. The graphics recognition module follows a clustering based approach in order to recognize middle points. Middle points are 2D points where the direction of the curves changes. They delimit the straight line segments that construct the graphics curves. We use these detected middle points in order to understand various features of each line segment and the associations between them. Additionally, we convert the extracted internal tabular associations and the captured curves’ structural and functional behavior into a common and at the same time unique form of representation, which is the Stochastic Petri-net (SPN) graphs. The use of SPN graphs allow for the merging of different document modalities through the functions that describe them, without any prior knowledge about what these functions are. Finally, we achieve a higher level of document understanding through the synergistic merging of the aforementioned SPN graphs that we extract from the table and graphics modalities. We provide results from every step of the document modalities understanding methodologies and the synergistic merging as proof of concept for this research

Validation of the Satisfaction Scale of Basic Psychological Needs in Physical Education with the Incorporation of the Novelty in the Spanish Context

The purpose of the study was to validate to the physical education context, the Spanish version of the Scale of the Satisfaction of Psychological Needs toward the Physical Education classes of Menéndez and Fernández-Rio, with the incorporation of the novelty, since they contemplated its inclusion. In this study, 1444 students participated (mean = 15.34, standard deviation = 1.12) from several schools in Almeria. To analyze the psychometric properties of the scale, several analyses were carried out. The results offered support for both the four-factor structure and the higher-order model called satisfaction. The analysis of invariance with respect to gender showed that the factor structure of the questionnaire was invariant. The Cronbach alpha values were higher than 0.70 in the subscales. The results of this study demonstrated the reliability and validity of the Scale of the Satisfaction of Psychological Needs, with the incorporation of novelty in the Spanish context of Physical Education

Mathematical Formula Recognition and Automatic Detection and Translation of Algorithmic Components into Stochastic Petri Nets in Scientific Documents

A great percentage of documents in scientific and engineering disciplines include mathematical formulas and/or algorithms. Exploring the mathematical formulas in the technical documents, we focused on the mathematical operations associations, their syntactical correctness, and the association of these components into attributed graphs and Stochastic Petri Nets (SPN). We also introduce a formal language to generate mathematical formulas and evaluate their syntactical correctness. The main contribution of this work focuses on the automatic segmentation of mathematical documents for the parsing and analysis of detected algorithmic components. To achieve this, we present a synergy of methods, such as string parsing according to mathematical rules, Formal Language Modeling, optical analysis of technical documents in forms of images, structural analysis of text in images, and graph and Stochastic Petri Net mapping. Finally, for the recognition of the algorithms, we enriched our rule based model with machine learning techniques to acquire better results

The Visually Related Posterior Pretectal Nucleus in the Non-Percomorph Teleost Osteoglossum bicirrhosum Projects to the Hypothalamus

This study was done to elucidate the ancestral (plesiomorphic) condition for visual pathways to the hypothalamus in teleost fishes. Three patterns of pretectal organization can be discerned morphologically and histochemically in teleosts. Their taxonomic distribution suggests that the intermediately complex pattern (seen in most teleost groups) is ancestral to both the elaborate pattern (seen in percomorphs) and the simple pattern (seen in cyprinids). The pretectal nuclei involved can be demonstrated with acetylcholinesterase histochemistry selectively and reliably in different species of teleosts, suggesting that the same-named nuclei are homologous in representatives of the three different patterns. Whereas there are visual pathways to the hypothalamus in both the elaborate (percomorph) and the simple (cyprinid) patterns, different pretectal and hypothalamic nuclei are involved. Thus visual hypothalamic pathways in these two patterns would not appear to be homologous. In this study, circuitry within the third, i.e., the intermediately complex, pattern is investigated. It is demonstrated that visual pathways project via the pretectum to the hypothalamus in Osteoglossum bicirrhosum and that they are very similar to the visual pathways in the elaborate pattern. This suggests that the circuitry in the intermediately complex pattern, as represented by Osteoglossum, is plesiomorphic (evolutionarily primitive) and the circuitry in both the simple pattern (seen in cyprinids) and the elaborate pattern (seen in percomorphs) is apomorphic (evolutionarily derived) for teleosts

It Takes Heart: Building Peer-Driven Training Initiatives Through Workers\u27 Stories

My research inquiry is centered on the larger project of building a transformational, empowerment model of worker voice in workplaces. The purpose of my research is to explore/illuminate the question, “How can I use workers’ stories to center and advance collaborative worker voice on the job through peer-driven training initiatives?” I frame this general research inquiry around two key questions: (a) How do I create authentic spaces for workers’ stories to emerge from the heart? (b) How do I use workers’ stories to create the environment needed for workers to become peer teachers/leaders of their own training initiatives? This study’s intended audience is any practitioner who seeks to center workers’ experiences/stories as the fulcrum for transformational workplace change. My research method is Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN). SPN is a sustained exploration of one’s own narrative experiences of dealing with a particular question, problem, or dynamic that has broader social significance. It entails analyzing that experience through the lens of relevant research and theory. I have chosen a hybrid video/written format for my SPN, to create a first-person storytelling experience for the viewer/reader that replicates my methodology with workers at their worksites. The video segments of this dissertation can be found at http://debmoy.weebly.com/. My findings document the key elements needed to be an effective change agent supporting organic leadership in organizations through workers’ stories. My dissertation can influence the effectiveness of California Transit Works (CTW), the statewide consortium bringing my approach to scale nationally. My dissertation can bring academic recognition to key roles that third-party neutrals, or “intermediaries,” can play in building worker voice empowerment within labor/management partnerships. Finally, I hope this dissertation inspires and guides workers and change agents to take an holistic view of what it means to have our own voices and be our own best allies in transforming our communities. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu)

Identifying the emergence of the superficial peroneal nerve through deep fascia on ultrasound and by dissection:Implications for regional anesthesia in foot and ankle surgery

Regional anesthesia relies on a sound understanding of anatomy and the utility of ultrasound in identifying relevant structures. We assessed the ability to identify the point at which the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) emerges through the deep fascia by ultrasound on 26 volunteers (mean age 27.85 years ± 13.186; equal male: female). This point was identified, characterized in relation to surrounding bony landmarks (lateral malleolus and head of the fibula), and compared to data from 16 formalin‐fixed human cadavers (mean age 82.88 years ± 6.964; equal male: female). The SPN was identified bilaterally in all subjects. On ultrasound it was found to pierce the deep fascia of the leg at a point 0.31 (±0.066) of the way along a straight line from the lateral malleolus to the head of the fibula (LM‐HF line). This occurred on or anterior to the line in all cases. Dissection of cadavers found this point to be 0.30 (±0.062) along the LM‐HF line, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (U = 764.000; exact two‐tailed P = 0.534). It was always on or anterior to the LM‐HF line, anterior by 0.74 cm (±0.624) on ultrasound and by 1.51 cm (±0.509) during dissection. This point was significantly further anterior to the LM‐HF line in cadavers (U = 257.700, exact two‐tailed P < 0.001). Dissection revealed the nerve to divide prior to emergence in 46.88% (n = 15) limbs, which was not identified on ultrasound (although not specifically assessed). Such information can guide clinicians when patient factors (e.g., obesity and peripheral edema) make ultrasound‐guided nerve localization more technically challenging.PostprintPeer reviewe